Thanks Joe. I want to write more content, but I’m very busy with work at the moment, so the short poems are just to keep up with posting and then I do bigger ones when I can sit down and really work on it.

I can relate I haven’t had the time to post lately as I recently moved, it’s been one of those “do I unpack these damn boxes or write a post?” Months!! And naturally when I finally get a break I’m so overwhelmed or over emotional whatever I would post would just be horrible. Kudos for setting aside time for even the short poems as well as your response to comments!!

I wouldn’t blame you if you were upset with me. That didn’t come out quite the way I would have liked it to. It all hinges on the title of vulnerability, there is a C.S. .Lewis quote about how we have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, though I realize it is a balance and I know, from experience, how some people can just be jerks in a relationship. I used to blame myself, but then I realized it wasn’t me necessarily, I simply–used–to attract the wrong people. I don’t know. This is about as social as I get, and I don’t comment much. But I do know that I do need to support other people’s blogs as well and you write poetry and far be it for me to discourage anyone from writing, from being creative, and expressing their feelings because that in itself takes a lot of courage.

I’m not a very good at comments. Though I majored in lit & creative comp, I think maybe I’m simply not very good at socializing. Okay I shall shut up now.

I wasn’t at all offended by what you wrote, I was agreeing with you for the most part. I would welcome any criticism anyway, that’s one major way to learn and improve. I’m in no way an expert at writing, I’m pretty much self taught and just write what’s on my mind at the time, so I welcome all insights. Not everyone can agree, but it doesn’t mean that’s reason for upset. If you don’t mind me saying, you might well be blaming yourself for something you haven’t done. 🙂

Although my professors told me I would make a good creative editor, I find it difficult to critique poetry, more so than prose.

I would suggest, however, to study forms. I used to think this wasn’t important, but only because it can be insanely difficult. There is a Ghazal on my poetry blog that I wrote. It’s a pretty simple form. The English Sonnet is also a good form to start with. My favorite, however is the Aubade, which isn’t exceptionally strict but simply romantic & bittersweet.

The process never ends, dear. Trust me on that. We never really finish anything we write, so much as we abandon it.

I still rework short fiction that I wrote two years ago in college.

My poetry, however, I have kind of given that up. Nevertheless, I have notes on top of notes. I’m not
sure if this is the site I went to or not, but if you go here: http://thepoetsgarret.com/list.html you will find a long list of forms and examples of each.

I simply made a huge document in MS Word of all of them, which made them more accessible. .

When you find one you trust, you can risk being vulnerable. in the meantime learn to love and live, enjoying each day, being thankful you are more than a beautiful person. you are intelligent and filled with emotions. I admire your powerful words. let them flow.

Strong and determined, inspiring and raw. It has been said of the true poet that highly powerful and emotive poetry comes out of the soul who has walked through much pain and sorrow and survived. I believe it, because I lived it as well. Great work, Sara.